Update: Island man arrested for allegedly defrauding women

Jordan David Shepherd, 34, is is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant issued by Ladysmith RCMP for five counts of fraud under $5,000 that happened in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and New Westminster during 2017. (RCMP)

According to police he was arrested at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday without incident.

“He was sleeping in a car outside a local motel … he appears in court today,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.

O’Brien also said, in an RCMP press release issued Thursday, that news of Shepherd’s arrest warrant generated a large response on social media.

“The news release concerning Shepherd was posted to our detachment Facebook account and within hours, was viewed 20,0000 [times] and shared over 700 times. This story obviously touched a cord with many. Additionally, other victims have now come forward and will be interviewed by investigators assigned to this matter,” O’Brien said.

The arrest coincides with the start of Fraud Prevention Month, which starts today, March 1.

Original:

The RCMP believes there could be more victims of a Vancouver Island man who allegedly defrauded numerous women he dated.

Jordan David Shepherd, 34, is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant issued by Ladysmith RCMP for five counts of fraud under $5,000 that happened in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and New Westminster during 2017.

Police allege that Shepherd, who sometimes goes by Dave Rofter, met women in their 20s or 30s in person, via social media or the Plenty of Fish online dating website and asked them to deposit cheques for him using his business account, On the Rocks Surveying.

RCMP say Shepherd would tell women he lost his bank card or didn’t have it, and when the women cashed the cheques for him, they would be later notified that On the Rocks Surveying didn’t exist.

“Some of the women who fell prey to Shepherd have taken to social media to warn other women of his actions. We too wish to warn others and hopefully encourage any who have not come forward yet, to do so. Shepherd needs to held accountable for his actions,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release

Shepherd is from Nanaimo, but may be on the Lower Mainland right now. He is 6-foot-1, 230 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes and has a tattoo of a crown on his right wrist and a tattoo reading ‘No regrets’ on his upper right arm.